Gisborne Policeman experiencing military life in the jungle
Gisborne policeman Daniel Clarke has swapped walking the beat in his home town for the jungles of Malaysia for the next few weeks as he takes part in a large multinational military exercise.
Private Clarke is one of more than 50 New Zealand Army Reservists from all over the country taking part in Exercise Bersama Lima, a military exercise held each year involving forces from New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and the United Kingdom. These countries signed the Five Power Defence Arrangement in 1971 as a commitment to defence co-operation and regional stability in South East Asia.
Private Clarke, who attended Lytton High School, has strong family links to the military.
“My great-grandfather served at Gallipoli during the First World War, while my grandfather was in J Force in Japan at the end of the Second World War,” he said. “My great-grandfather was shot in the leg at Gallipoli and named my grandmother after the nurse who cared for him.”
Private Clarke was working as an automotive refinisher when, aged 29, he joined the New Zealand Army Reservists. The following year he joined the police because, having a house and young children, that career would allow him to return to work in Gisborne once he finished training.
“Now I get the best of both worlds, working in my home town in a civilian job while enjoying the challenges of being a Reservist,” he said. “Being a Reservist has allowed me to indulge in my love of the outdoors while also learning some great skills.
“Mostly I joined to test myself. Basic Training was one of the most rewarding things I had ever done because it pushed me beyond my comfort zones, both mentally and physically. There was also a great sense of comradery among the group and we helped each other get through it.”
Private Clarke said joining the Reserve force might be a good option for young people struggling to find their path in life.
“In training you learn discipline and you develop a great sense of self-worth, and that may be just what some young people need to avoid taking the wrong options in their lives,” he said.
He is excited about being involved in Exercise Bersama Lima.
“It is such a great opportunity to travel to Malaysia and take part in an international exercise with our ally and partner nations,” he said. “It is an awesome experience. Learning new skills in a new environment, and working with soldiers from other countries — it just doesn’t get better than this.”
Exercise Bersama Lima, from 29 September to 19 October, is usually based in Singapore and takes place in the South China Sea and around the Malaysian Peninsula. It involves Royal New Zealand Navy, New Zealand Army, and Royal New Zealand Air Force units and supporting units conducting training with Five Power Defence Arrangement air, land and maritime assets.
Members of the New Zealand Army Reserve regularly work and train alongside their Regular Force counterparts in New Zealand and overseas. Their military training also strengthens the leadership, resilience, teamwork and focus they bring to their civilian roles — benefitting their employers and their communities.
